Arm exerciser



Oct- 23, 1962 G. l.. sPRADLl N 3,059,476

ARM EXERCISER Filed Jan. 25, 1960 INVENTOR GEORGE L. SPRADLIN ATTORNEY United States Patent "i 3,059,475 ARM EXERCISER George L. Spradlin, 138 Alexander Drive, Haysville, Kans. Filed Jan. 2S, 1960, Ser. No. 4,259 2 Claims. (Cl. 73-380) This invention relates to an exercising device and, more particularly, to such a device designed specifically to develop the arm, wrist and hand muscles.

The arm exercisers of the prior art are complex in construction and, in most cases, must be secured to a ta-ble or other supporting structure in order to prevent them from turning over in operation. Furthermore the complexity of the prior art structures adds to the cost and shipping expense of the devices. Also no suitable means has heretofore been provided to adjust the device so that it may be used easily by persons having different lengths of arms and so that each arm Imay be exercised.

In accordance with the present invention, an exerciser which is simple in construction and lightweight has been provided which has adjustable means whereby an operator of any age or length of arm can easily adapt the device for his own particular use. This device is also simple in construction and lightweight, making it commercially feasible for production and sales on a large volume. It may be shipped as a small compact unit and easily assembled at the point of destination. 'Ihe present device also provides a scale so that the amount of force being applied to the handle by various operators can readily be observed and compared. Alternate means are also provided for adjusting the length of the operating arm to the length of the arm of the individual operator. Furthermore, both arms can be exercised by the exerciser of this invention.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved exercising device.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved arm exerciser which is lightweight, efficient and easy to construct.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an arm exerciser which has adjusting means to adjust the device to the particular length of the operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide an arm exerciser which can be used to exercise either arm by a simple adjustment of the device.

A still further object of this invention is to provide scale or indicating means on the device whereby the relative pressures being applied by various operators to the handle can easily be observed and compared.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings which disclose a preferred specific embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings,

IFIG. l is a perspective view of a preferred specic embodiment of the arm exerciser.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device.

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view taken along the lines 4 4 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a cross section view ,along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 2 showing the elbow pad and base in cross section.

FIG. 6 shows the preferred manner of adjustably connecting the two tubular members which form the operator arm of the device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the novel arm exercising device of this invention includes an elongated housing, shown generally at 10, having two sides 12 and 14, and ends 16 and 18. A reinforcing rod 19 can be 3,059,476 Patented Oct. 23, 1962 ICC used to strengthen the housing 10 if necessary, such being secured to the sides 12 and 14. The .top 20 of the housing preferably includes a portion 22 which is inclined to the general plane of the rest of the top, and has a longitudinally extending slot 24 in one end thereof, with scale or indicating means 26 on each side of said slot. The scale or indicating means can conveniently be calibrated to measure pounds of force. As will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, a portion of the inclined part of the housing 22 will be recessed within the housing 20'. This permits arm operator 38, described in detail hereinafter, to be operated without interference from the top of the housing. The housing 10 lits on a base 28 which projects from each side of the housing, and which is mounted in slots formed in sides 12 and 14. Base 28 is preferably easily removably -mounted in any suitable manner for easy shipment in disassembled condition. Tracks 30` and 32 are mounted on each of the two sides of the housing 10 directly over the extending portions of the base.

Elbow pad 34, preferably having tracks 36 mounted on one side, is received in either of the tracks 30 or 32 mounted on each side of the housing, with tracks 36 engaged with tracks 30 or 32 in interlocking relation. The elbow pad 34 can be made in various thicknesses in order to accommodate arms of different lengths. As will be apparent from FIG. 2 pads can be inserted over either portion of the base extending from the housing in order that the right hand or the left hand can be exercised -by this device.

A tubular arm operator 38 is mounted within the housing 10 on pivot pin 40 which extends through the sides 12 and 14 of the housing. The lower end 41 of the arm operator 38 which extends below the point of pivot 40 is preferably bent slightly from the axis of the arm operator 38 toward the end 16' of the housing. The end 41 of the arm operator 38 is attached, through linkage 44, to resilient means, such as a tension operating spiral spring 46 which in turn has its other end connected to a hook 48. Hook 48 preferably has a threaded shank portion 50 which extends through an aperture in the end 16 of the housing and receives a thumb screw 52 thereon. As will readily be apparent from FIG. 3 of the drawings the tightening of thumb screw 52 will adjust the tension on spring 46.

A pointer 54 is preferably rigidly attached to one end of the spring y46 and extends underneath the inclined portion A22 of the housing to the slot 24, projects therethrough, and has an indicating head 56l secured thereto.

The arm operator 38 is preferably composed of two c0- axial tubular members 42 and 58 preferably held together by -a se-t screw 60 which is threadedly mounted in the upper end of member 42 and engages .a cylindrical plug 62 which is coaxial with both of the members 42 and 58, and which extends when mounted into a portion of each of them. Plug 62 is preferably secured within member 5'8 by welds 61, or other suitable mean-s. 'Ilhe upper end 64 of the ar-m operator 38 forms a handle which is preferably curved to fit the hand of the user. The arm operator 38, when yassembled in position, extends through the top of the housing 20 between the track means 30 and 32 mounted on the sides thereof. The handle 64 can be adjusted kto overlie either extending portion of the base 28 by loosening `set screw 60, rotating the handle 64 to the desired position, land again tightening set screw 60. Befiore tightening set screw 60, the effective length of the arm operator 38 can be adjusted to lit the arm length lof the user by elevating member 58 and attached plug 62 relative to member 42. Thus means have been provided for exercising either arm and adjusting the device lto fit the arm of the user.

To rassemble the device for operation the two members 42 and 58 which form operator yarm 38 are assembled in coaxial relation with plug 62 therein. Lock screw 60 is tightened to secure them relative to each other after adjustment has been made for the arm length of the user in the manner previously described. Arm operator 38 is then placed within the housing and pivotally mounted therein by pivot pin 40. The lower end 41 of operator arm 38 is then attached .to spring 46 through link 44 and the other end of spring 46 is engaged 'by the hook 48. Hook 48 is then passed through an Iaperture in the end 16 of the housing and thumb screw v52. is turned on threaded shank 50 to retain the lparts in operative relationship. Pointer S4 is then secured to the end of spring 46 adjacent the link 44 and the other end of -the pointer is extended through the inclined portion 22 of the housing 20. Thumb screw 52 is then tightened until` the indicator 56 on pointer 54 overlies the zero mark on ythe scale 26. Elbow pad 34 is then placed in position underneath the handle 64 of arm operator 38 and removably secured in this position by tracks 30 and 36. Thus the device is readily assembled into operating relation with the minimum expenditure of time and effort.

To use the arm exerciser the operator flrst adjusts the device to the length of his arm by choosing the appropriate elbow pad 34 and/or Iadjusting the length of the arm operator 38 by loosening the set screw 60 'and extending or retracting the upper portion 58 of the arm operator 38. The the operator places his arm on the elbow pad 34, grasps the handle 64 and moves the handle in a direction to oppose the spring 46. The upper portion of arm operator 38 will lthen koverlie the inclined portion Z2 of the housing. The force being applied to the handle 64 will be registered on the scale or indicator 26 in order that the daily progress of the operator can be recorded or his value compared with that of an opponen. As previously indicated the elbow pad 34 and handle 64 may overlie either portion of the extending base 28 in order that both arms can be individually exercised by this device.

The housing 10, base 28 and interior of the elbow pad 34 lare shown as being made of wood. However suitable metals, plastics, Iand the like can also be used. The arm` operator 38 is preferably a lightweight strong metal such as aluminum, however plastic or wood again can be used. Elbow pad 34 is preferably covered with a felt or similar fabric but can also be covered or made entirely of an elastomer or other resilient material, if desired.

'While the invention has been described in connectionA with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to lillustrate 'and not limit the scope of the invention, which is dened 'by the appended claims.

IIt will be evident to 'those skilled in the art that various rnodiications of this invention can be made, or followed, in the light of `this disclosure without departing fromv 'the scope of the disclosure vor from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An exercising device comprising, in combination, an elongated housing having two sides, -a 'top and being closed at the ends, said top having a portion recessed and inclined from one end portion of said housing and having a scale thereon, a base on which said housing ts and having va removable portion extending beyond lsaid two sides of said housing when mounted thereon, tracks mounted on each of Isaid two sides of said housing directly over said extending portions of said base to receive elbow pads of variable thickness, an elbow pad slidably and removably received in at least one of said tracks, a spiral spring within said housing, a tubular arm operator pivotally mounted within said housing and extending through the top of said housing between said tracks, the upper end of said arm operato-r being curved to form a handle which tits the h-and of the user land the lower end of said arm operator extending beyond the pivot mounting and being attached to one end of said spiral spring, the other end of said spiral -spring being adjustably secured in said end portion of said housing by a hook having a threaded shank portion extending through the end of said hou-sing and receiving `a thumb screw thereon whereby the tension of said spring can be adjusted, said `arm operator ibeing formed by two coaXi-ally joined tubular members held together -by a set screw so that the handle portion of said arm can overlie either of said portion of said base, a pointer rigidly attached to said springend extending out of said housing through a slot in said inclined portion of said top of said housing `and overlying said scale on the top of said housing to indicate on s-aid scale the force being applied by an operator to the upper end of said arm operator in opposition to `the force of said spiral spring.

2. An exercising device comprising, in combination, an elongated housing, a base on which Isaid housing tits :and having a removable portion extend-ing beyond two sides of 'said housing when mounted thereon, tracks mounted on at least one of the two sides of said housing directly over said extending portions of said base to receive elbow pads of variable thicknesses, an elbow pad having track means thereon slidably and removably receivable in said track means, the portion of said removable portion extending lbeyond said housing receiving -and mounting said elbow pad when such is Imounted on said tracks, an arm Ioperator pivotally mounted within said housing and extending through the top thereof between said tracks, a handle formed by the upper end of said arm operator, a spiral spring within said housing, the lower end 0f said arm operator extending beyond the pivot mounting .and being attached to one end of said spiral spring, the other end of said spiral spring lbeing adjustably secured to an end portion of said housing by a hook having 'a threaded shank portion extending through an aperture in the end of said housing and receiving a thumb screw thereon to `adjustably tension said spring, a pointer rigidly attached to said spring land extending out of said housing through a slot formed therein to overlie a scale on said housing thereby indicating the force being applied by an operator to the handle of said arm operator in opposition to the force of the said spiral spring.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 405,910 Reed June 25, 1889 501,918 Cardwen Jury 25, 1893 948,140 Johnson Feb. 1, 1910 

